Compare towns
Ashland vs Dover vs Bennington vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashland | Dover | Bennington | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
33,364Highest |
1,588 |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
46.4±5.7Highest 7% above NH |
| Lisbon and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$65,500±$13k 34% below NH |
| Dover and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,344±$303 10% below NH |
| Dover and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$4,691Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.9%±18.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lisbon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Dover School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 6.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.